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Outfielder Yeicok Calderon became a Yankee at the tender age of 16, signing in July 2008 as an international free agent.

The following summer, the native of La Romana, Dominican Republic began the first of two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, and the lefty was nothing but dominant. In 539 plate appearances for the Yankees’ two DSL squads in 2009 and 2010, Calderon hit .331 with 11 home runs, 71 RBI, 21 doubles and 14 stolen bases. He also walked 81 times and scored 78 runs, and left the Dominican Republic with an overall OPS of .930.

Calderon came to the States in 2011 at age 19, and struggled a bit with the adjustment to the Gulf Coast League. While he continued to show power – hitting six home runs and 11 doubles in 151 at-bats – his average dropped to .225 and he walked just eight times against 54 strikeouts.

This summer, however, Calderon has looked much more comfortable against GCL competition. As of August 22, he was hitting .272 with a GCL-leading seven home runs, 21 RBI, and an .821 OPS that had him seventh in the league with just a few days left on the schedule.

He has especially feasted on lefties this season, somewhat surprisingly posting a .288-3-6 line and a .847 OPS that would make even the most southpaw-friendly of left-handed Major League hitters look twice.

Calderon still has some issues to work on defensively, as he had committed six errors and posted just an .902 fielding percentage in 28 games in right field through August 22 – but he won’t even be 21 until December 23, so he still has plenty of time to develop.

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